Stoke Rochford Political weekend

2 weekends ago Manchester Labour Students went to Stoke Rochford for the annual political weekend where we met ministers, launched the priority campaign and generally had a good time and wound down after the by election.

Here is Alan Johnson in the process of being extensively lobbied by members of Labour Students on plans for faith schools, grammar schools and of course top up fees. He made some incredibly important points about the Governments plans for widening participation, which will ensure that more people in our constituency will get the chance to go to University.

If anyone would like to get further involved in labour students then check out the Manchester Labour Club website and the national Labour Students website. Feel free to drop Ciaran Waude the national chair an email at ciaran_ward@new.labour.org.uk or email me on gortonclp_youthandstudents@hotmail.co.uk for anything specifically to do labour students in Manchester.

A run down of Labour in Manchester

LABOUR IN MANCHESTER:

Labour representatives have been elected to represent you at every level.

• 4 out of the 5 MPs representing Manchester in Parliament are Labour
• There are 63 labour councillors on Manchester city council
• There are 3 labour MEPs representing the North West region, which includes Manchester.

MANCHESTER GORTON REPRESENTED BY GERALD KAUFMAN MP

Fallowfield - represented by 3 Labour councillors

Gorton North - represented by 1 Labour councillor and 2 lib dems

Gorton South - represented by 3 lib dems (despite the fact lib dems have pledged to axe the new deal which has helped over 1 million people into work)

Levenshulme - represented by 3 lib dems (despite the fact that lib dems opposed the introduction of the minimum wage)

Longsight - represented by 1 labour councillor and 2 lib dems

Rusholme - represented by 3 lib dems (despite the fact lib dems are committed to scrapping the child trust fund)

Whalley Range - represented by 1 Labour councillor and 2 lib dems

MANCHESTER CENTRAL IS REPRESENTED BY TONY LLOYD MP

City centre - represented by 3 lib dems (despite the fact lib dems would axe the pensions credit)

Hulme - represented by 2 Labour councillors and 1 green

Ancoats and Clayton - represented by 3 Labour councillors including the deputy leader of the council

Bradford - represented by 3 Labour councillors

Ardwick - represented by 3 Labour councillors

Moss Side - represented by 3 Labour councillors

Miles Platting and Newton Heath - represented by 3 Labour councillors

MANCHESTER BLACKLEY IS REPRESENTED BY GRAHAM STRINGER MP

Higher Blackley - represented by 3 Labour councillors

Cheetham - represented by 3 Labour councillors

Crumpsall - represented by 3 Labour councillors including the leader of the council

Harpurhey - represented by 3 Labour councillors

Moston - represented by 3 Labour councillors

Charlestown - represented by 3 Labour councillors

WYTHENSHAWE AND SALE EAST IS REPRESENTED BY PAUL GOGGINS MP

Baguley - represented by 3 Labour councillors

Brooklands - represented by 3 labour councillors

Northenden - represented by 3 Labour councillors

Sharston - represented by 3 Labour councillors

Woodhouse Park - represented by 3 Labour councillors

MANCHESTER WITHINGTON IS REPRESENTED BY JOHN LEECH MP

The Lib Dems are dangerously out of touch on crime and anti-social behaviour. The Lib Dems repeatedly tried to block Labour’s measures to tackle anti-social behaviour, and would deprive police and local authorities the powers to take on the vandals and bullies. They are more concerned with the rights of the criminals than the victims and LibDem councils have the worst records for tackling anti-social behaviour.

If you ever contemplate voting for them again just remember:-
They voted against dispersal orders - powers to break up teen gangs. They say prison is a waste of time - never send young criminals to court. They opposed fixed penalty notices for drunken louts. They would end all jail sentences for drug possession.

Burnage - represented by 3 lib dems (despite the fact lib dems opposed the winter fuel payment and free tv licenses for the over 75s)

Chorlton - represented by 3 labour councillors including the deputy leader of the council

Chorlton Park - represented by 3 lib dems (despite the fact that lib dems would privatise the Post Office)

Didsbury East - represented by 3 lib dems (despite the fact that leading lib dems are advocating scrapping the NHS)

Didsbury West - represented by 3 lib dems (despite the fact that lib dems tried to block Labour's measures to crack down on Anti-Social Behaviour)

Old Moat - represented by 3 labour councillors

Withington - represented by 3 lib dems despite the fact that lib dem's plans for local income tax would cost a couple on average earnings an average £260 a year more

Youth report for October

Here it is as promised. What has been achieved in the youth section and what is in the pipeline.

What has been achieved over the last month or so

• Campaigning in Gorton South By election - a personal thanks from me and the candidate Julie Reid. Young people in the constituency and Manchester Labour Students put in a mammoth effort leafleting, canvassing and generally working hard. Unfortunately we didn't win but your efforts were much appreciated and you are all fantastic! Bring on May!!
• Conference - this was fantastic and brought so much good publicity for labour controlled Manchester. I attended the launch of the labour students Make Child Poverty History campaign with Jim Murphy MP. This is in conjuction with the Child Poverty Action group and centres around the theme of Make Child Benefit Count. I'll let you know more about what you can do at a later date via the website and email.
• Website - a fairly obvious one but I have set up this website in the form of a blog to communicate with young people and students in the constituency about what is happening within Young Labour and Labour Students. Obviously, confidential information will be continued to be sent out via email.
• University Challenge - work has started on collecting as many signatures and email addresses of labour supporters in our key seats. One of which is Manchester Gorton. Work continues on this and I'll let you know how things go.

What is in the pipeline

• US mid term elections 7th November - Hopefully this is when the Democrats will make sweeping gains in the Senate and the House of representatives. I am working on organising an event that night and will keep you posted as and when details arise.
• Labour Students in the community 11th November - this will involve a clean up and leaflet drop in Fallowfield followed by a famous NOLS social in the evening. More details via email.
• Anti BNP campaigning 2nd/3rd December - campaigning against the BNP with other Labour members in Burnley. Accomodation provided and a social on the Saturday night. Once again more details via email.
• Campaigning in a more general sense - obviously there will be loads going on in Manchester and I will let you know as I get the details. However, this year is the most important year for the party outside the General Election as it sees elections to the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament. Therefore in conjunction with labour students, before Christmas, there is one weekend away in Wales organised and 2 weekends away organised for Scotland. I'll let you know as it gets nearer the time.

If you need anything at all, don't hesistate to contact me by leaving a comment and I'll give you more details of everything we've got planned as soon as possible.

All the best, Adele

Hello and welcome

This is the first post designed to keep you up to date with what is going on with labour in Gorton constituency. To introduce myself I am Adele and am the Youth and Students officer for Gorton CLP. My job over the next few months is to get young people involved in the constituency, campaigning to keep Manchester Labour and to have lots of fun doing it. There is lots coming up before Christmas in what is the most important year for the party in this cycle apart from the general election. Watch out for more updates as tommorow I will be giving my youth report to the constituency. This will detail what is organised in terms of Young people campaigning and events organised right up until the end of December. To get involved leave a comment or drop me an email on gortonclp_youthandstudents@hotmail.co.uk

All the best, Adele